‘I wore Fugu to UN but I’m surprised Zambians didn't see it’ - President Mahama wades into debate

President John Dramani Mahama has expressed surprise that public attention was only drawn to his wearing of a traditional smock during his visit to Zambia, despite having worn the same attire on the global stage in September 2025.

According to the President in a media interview on February 6, 2026, the smock, also known as Fugu or Batakari, has long been an important part of Ghana’s cultural identity and was worn by him to the United Nations during a major address last September.

People and Places: The Fugu story and the people of the North

“Smocks have become an integral part of our cultural identity and I wore the smock to the United Nations, the highest platform in this world. I'm surprised that Zambians didn't see me in a smock last September,” he said.

The president noted that he was wearing the traditional attire when he delivered a speech at the UN that attracted widespread international attention.

President Mahama further said he was surprised that the outfit only became a topic of discussion after his visit to Zambia, but welcomed the attention, noting that it has brought unexpected benefits to local artisans in Ghana.

“When I gave the speech that everybody was talking about, I was wearing a smock. I'm surprised that they didn't notice it until I visited Zambia,” he stated.

He expressed confidence that the growing interest sparked online would boost awareness and appreciation of the Ghanaian traditional wear globally.

“…the smock weavers in Ghana will be very happy because I, by power of social media, have given them branding and marketing that they couldn't have dreamed of ever getting,” he said.

“And I'm sure that by the time I leave here, the number of searches for Fugu, Batakari and smock is going to be quite high,” President Mahama added.

Zambia's President Hichilema to make order for Ghana’s iconic fugu after viral online banter

The smock has been trending online after Zambians mocked it by describing it as a blouse. This mockery, which spread widely on social media, sparked massive reactions from Ghanaians, who responded by proudly showcasing their smocks in diverse styles to celebrate their cultural heritage.



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Social media uproar as Ghanaians, Zambians clash over Mahama's fashion choices: